God and gender

Is God male, female, both, neither ... ?

The article "Jottings on retirement" (October) raises a question.
Stephen Schmidt's thoughts about retirement were thought-provoking
until I reached his reference to God as "she." What is the ELCA
position on whether God should be addressed as he or she?

William E. SchirmerCarlisle, Pa.

I
can find no reference in Scripture where God is referred to as a
feminine deity. There are plenty of references where God is called
"he." I can't begin to know God with my limited human mind. Jesus is
truly God and was truly man. So I see God through the person of Jesus,
and there's no question about his masculinity or his divinity.